BOBBIE JOE WELLS

He was born Dec. 17, 1927, in Ridgley, the son of James Britten and Jessie Ellen (Buttrick) Wells. On Aug. 18, 1950, in Arkansas, he was united in marriage to Ruby Jewell Boyd, who preceded him in death on Jan. 14, 2007. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Vickie Ann Mills; his twin brother, Billie James and a sister, Marjorie Wogoman.

He received his education at Corsicana School and helped on the family farm. On Oct. 12, 1950, he joined the United States Army and was honorably discharged from the Army Reserves on Sept. 21, 1952. He then worked at various jobs and in 1959 moved to Kansas City where he worked as a dry wall finisher. His brother, Bill owned a dry wall business and in 1975 he moved back to Southwest Missouri to join him, retiring in 1995.